The SR-71, unofficially named the ‘Blackbird’, was put into service in 1966 after being developed by Lockheed Skunk Works. SR-71s were high-speed (Mach 3), high-altitude, long-range, strategic reconnaissance aircraft with stealth capabilities. They could fly at an altitude of 100,000 feet and boasted a ‘no loss’ record in enemy action. Because of the high altitudes reached the pilots wore suits identical to those used by NASA astronauts on space missions.